Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 156

138 STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE works are sometimes found to be written in ordinary prose or sometimes in verse and nowhere does one suspect the slightest attempt made to secure brevity and conciseness of expression. They are usually written, especially in their prose parts, in a characteristically prolix and verbose style, full of tiresome repetition and aggregation of synonymous words in one and the same place and to express the selfsame idea." In view of their style they cannot lay claim to the title sutra. J. Charpentier in his introduction to his edition of the Uttaradhyayana-sutra (p 32) observes : "They (the Jains) doubtless adopted this name for their sacred writings more as a sort of formal counterpoise or set-off against Brahmanism, than, with a view to imitating the style and modes of expression of the Brahmanical sutra literature." The learned editors of Nandisuttam and Anuogaddaraim (Jaina-AgamaSeries No. 1) however, defend the use of the title sutra in connection with their sacred texts thus : ...."However, the Jainas have used the term sutra for their Agamas not because they are composed in the sutra style but because their aim has been the same as that of the Vedic sutra. The aim of the Vedic sutra literature has been to comprehend, in a nutshell, all the teachings pertaining to Vedic conduct. Similarly, the main object of the Agamas has been to comprehend, in a summary fashion, all the teachings of Lord Mahavira....When the varied gems or flowers are strung together they remain preserved, do not get scattered and are not lost. Similarly when the teachings regarding conduct are written down and given the form of a book they remain preserved for a long time. So, all these works deserve the term sutra. In this context the meaning of the term sutra is : "sutranat sutram' (i.e., those works that put the various ideas together are called sutras)....Again, the Jainas maintain that the meanings of one single sentence, grasped by different hearers, are innumerable in accordance with their innumerable capacities. As a sentence of the Agama has the power to suggest in various ways innumerable meanings, that sentence or a collection of those sentences could legitimately be termed sutra. In other words, the Jaina Agama is called sutra because it has the power to convey--to suggest various meanings. In this context the meaning of the term sutra is : 'sucanat-sutram (i.e., that which suggests various meanings is sutra)." (iv) The Title of the Text Pancasutraka The text in question is popularly known as Pancasutra? (the Sanskrit equivalent of Pamcasuttam. As pointed out by the Editor, two of the palm-leaf MSS (K and K1) refer to the title of this text as Pancasutra. The list of names of works, prepared in the 14th or 15th century (VS), and known by the name